Marsh Madness Charters offers shallow water sight fishing on the Lower Eastern Shore of Virginia, led by Captain Zach Pfingst out of Cape Charles. Zach also works as a golf pro at Bay Creek Resort & Club in Cape Charles, splitting his time between the course and guiding anglers through the region’s pristine tidal estuaries.
Virginia’s Eastern Shore estuaries rank among the most productive ecosystems in the world, and Marsh Madness targets inshore species including Redfish (Red Drum), Sea Trout, Flounder, Striped Bass, Bluefish, and even Tarpon depending on the season, with late July offering the best shot at tarpon. Trips explore the barrier islands, marshes, creeks, and flats on the seaside of the Eastern Shore, threading through tiny islands and navigating around shoals, oyster beds, and crab pots to reach productive water.
The boat is a 2018 Salt Marsh Heron 18, an 18-foot, 6-inch skiff with a 77-inch beam, purpose-built for sight fishing with either a fly rod or spinning and conventional tackle. Its shallow draft lets Captain Zach stalk fish in extremely skinny water, and the boat can be poled from a raised platform or quietly worked with a Rhodan GPS trolling motor. The boat is kept on a trailer and launched from whichever ramp is closest to the day’s fishing grounds.
Guest reviews consistently describe Captain Zach as patient, personable, and deeply knowledgeable about the area, with guests praising his ability to put them on fish even in tough conditions and calling the experience one of the best inshore charters they’ve been on. Marsh Madness fills up quickly during spring and summer, so booking well in advance is recommended.
For anglers looking for shallow water sight fishing on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, whether chasing redfish, trout, striper, or a shot at tarpon, Marsh Madness Charters offers a highly reviewed, personally guided experience out of Cape Charles with Captain Zach Pfingst.
